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Free Florida Vehicle Bill of Sale

Selling a car in Florida runs through the county tax collector, but the title and rules come from FLHSMV in Tallahassee. Use HSMV 82050 as your bill of sale and pair it with a properly assigned FL Certificate of Title — the buyer then has 30 days to file HSMV 82040 and pay 6% sales tax (plus county surtax on the first $5,000) before late fees stack up.

Florida Requirements: Transfer title within 30 days. 6% sales tax.

Seller Information

Buyer Information

Vehicle Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty

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Florida Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form
HSMV 82050
Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle
Agency
FLHSMV
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Primary ID Field
VIN
Sales Tax
0.06%
Title Required
Yes
Florida is a title state. Seller must sign off the back of the FL Certificate of Title; buyer files HSMV 82040 (Application for Certificate of Title) at the local county tax collector within 30 days of sale to avoid late penalties.
Inspection
Not required

Sales Tax Details

Florida charges 6% state sales tax on the purchase price. County discretionary surtax (typically 0.5%-1.5%) applies on top, but only on the FIRST $5,000 of the sale price for motor vehicles. Effective rate runs about 6.5%-7.5% depending on county of residence (not county of purchase).

Exemption: Gift transfers between immediate family (parent/child, grandparent/grandchild, spouse, sibling) qualify for sales tax exemption when the title is signed as a gift and the family relationship is documented at the tax collector.

Inspection Requirements

Florida has NO state safety inspection and NO emissions testing. However, any vehicle being titled in FL for the first time from another state requires a VIN verification — completed by a FL law enforcement officer, FL notary, FL DMV employee, or FL licensed dealer using form HSMV 82042.

Registration

Registration for this vehicle type is handled by County tax collector (titling and registration agent for FLHSMV) — not the same agency that handles cars in Florida. Plan for separate filings.

Florida Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

  1. Complete HSMV 82050 with full names, addresses, VIN, year/make/model, odometer reading, sale price, and date
  2. Sign the back of the FL Certificate of Title in the transfer section — do not detach the title
  3. Record odometer disclosure on both the title and 82050 (federally required for vehicles under 20 years old)
  4. If vehicle is coming from out of state, schedule a VIN verification before visiting the tax collector
  5. Buyer files HSMV 82040 at the county tax collector within 30 days and pays 6% state tax + county surtax (capped on first $5,000)
  6. Seller submits a Notice of Sale online via FLHSMV to release liability the same day
  7. Remove the license plate — plates stay with the seller in Florida, not the vehicle

Common Pitfalls

  • Missing the 30-day title transfer deadline triggers a $20 late fee plus daily penalties — and the buyer loses the family tax exemption window
  • Leaving the plate on the car: in Florida the plate belongs to the seller, and any tickets, tolls, or crashes that follow stay attached to the seller's name
  • Skipping the Notice of Sale filing — without it, the seller remains the registered owner of record for liability purposes even after the title is signed
  • Buying an out-of-state vehicle without a VIN verification — the tax collector will refuse the title application and you'll have to come back
  • Curbstoners (unlicensed dealers flipping cars under personal names) often dodge the 82050 — if the seller refuses to fill it out fully, walk away

Pro Tip

Florida keeps the paperwork lean — one bill of sale, a signed title, a 30-day clock, and a tax collector visit — but the plate-stays-with-seller rule and the out-of-state VIN verification trip up newcomers every week. Pull the plate, file the Notice of Sale, and let the buyer handle the tax collector run.

Florida Vehicle Bill of Sale — FAQs

Do I need to use form HSMV 82050, or can I use a generic bill of sale?
A generic bill of sale is legally valid in Florida, but the county tax collector strongly prefers HSMV 82050 because it captures every field FLHSMV requires (odometer, VIN, sale price, both signatures). Using the official form prevents back-and-forth at the counter. If you use a custom form, make sure it includes the odometer disclosure, the exact sale price (used for sales tax calculation), and the buyer's and seller's printed names, addresses, and signatures. The title itself still has to be signed separately.
How much sales tax will the buyer actually pay in Florida?
Florida charges 6% state sales tax on the full purchase price plus a county discretionary surtax that only applies to the first $5,000. So on a $20,000 car in Hillsborough County (1.5% surtax), the buyer pays $1,200 state tax + $75 county surtax = $1,275 total. Discretionary surtax is based on the buyer's county of residence, not where the car was purchased. Trade-in credit through a licensed dealer reduces the taxable amount, but private-party trades do not.
Does Florida require a notary on the bill of sale or title?
No. Florida removed the notary requirement for routine vehicle transfers years ago — both the seller and buyer signatures on HSMV 82050 and the title are sufficient on their own. The exception is the VIN verification for out-of-state vehicles, which a Florida notary can complete (along with law enforcement or a DMV inspector). If you're selling to an out-of-state buyer who plans to title the car in a notary state, getting it notarized voluntarily can save them a trip later.
What happens to the license plate when I sell?
In Florida, plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle. Remove your plate at the time of sale. You can transfer it to your next vehicle, surrender it at the tax collector, or keep it in storage. If you leave the plate on the car you just sold and the buyer drives off, you remain liable for any toll violations, red-light camera tickets, parking tickets, and SunPass charges that hit that plate — and untangling that mess after the fact is expensive. File the Notice of Sale online with FLHSMV the same day to lock in your release of liability.

Other Florida Templates

🚗Car Bill of Sale🚙Used Car Bill of Sale🏍️Motorcycle Bill of Sale⛵Boat Bill of Sale🚛Trailer Bill of Sale🐴Horse Bill of Sale🏎️ATV Bill of Sale🔫Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale🏕️RV Bill of Sale📄General Bill of Sale🖨️Free Printable Bill of Sale📏Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale⚠️As-Is Bill of Sale🎁Gift Bill of Sale

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